FRISCO, Texas — Tyrann Mathieu told Caleb Downs not to chase plays on the latest episode of the “Downs 2 Business” podcast, recorded after the NFL’s Week 1 games wrapped. Downs hosts the show with his older brother, Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Josh Downs.
The episode followed Downs’ NFL debut in the Dallas Cowboys’ 28-20 loss to the New York Giants on Sept. 13 at MetLife Stadium. The Dallas Morning News reported the exchange between the rookie and Mathieu, a three-time first-team All-Pro safety.
Starting in the slot, Downs played 61 defensive snaps in the opener. He finished with 7 combined tackles, and his 4 solo tackles tied for the team lead. In the second quarter, Downs blitzed past the right tackle and dropped Jaxson Dart for an 8-yard loss at the Dallas 36 for his first career sack. The ball came loose on the hit. Giants left guard Jon Runyan Jr. recovered it at the Dallas 34 and returned it 5 yards.
Tyrann Mathieu Tells Caleb Downs Not To Chase Plays
Mathieu said offenses are getting more creative and finding ways to limit what a safety can do in a game.
“You really just gotta let the game come to you,” Mathieu said. “I think that’s what, like, film study and preparation, the longer you play in the league, you realize quick that all these offensive coordinators and head coaches, they all come from certain trees. Once you sort of pick up on that, film study and preparation for those teams, it becomes much easier.”
The Arizona Cardinals drafted Mathieu in the third round, No. 69 overall, in 2013. He played 180 games over 12 seasons with Arizona, the Houston Texans, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the New Orleans Saints. He finished his career with 36 interceptions. Mathieu won Super Bowl LIV with Kansas City and retired as a member of the Saints on July 22, 2025.
Back in May, on his own podcast, “In the Bayou with Tyrann Mathieu,” he picked Downs to win Defensive Rookie of the Year. Mathieu said then that Downs had a shot at 100 tackles, 3 sacks, and 3 interceptions as a rookie.
Caleb Downs Studied Kansas City Chiefs Film To Prepare For Matt Nagy’s Giants
The Giants hired Matt Nagy as offensive coordinator this offseason. Nagy held the same job in Kansas City twice, from 2016 to 2017 and from 2023 to 2025.
Downs said the Cowboys built their Week 1 film study around Kansas City.
“The whole [week] leading up to it, we were watching a bunch of Chiefs film,” Downs said. “So I feel like I was preparing to play [Patrick] Mahomes and [Travis] Kelce more than I was preparing for the guys from the Giants.”
In Nagy’s first game calling plays for New York, Dart went 23-of-29 for 230 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. Dallas forced 4 fumbles and recovered 1.
Cowboys coach Brian Schottenheimer said attacking the ball was one of the positives from the defense on Sunday.
“I think Caleb played really, really well,” Schottenheimer said. “Jaxson Dart never saw him on the blitz. He gets a free run and the ball goes spiraling through the air, and the 320-pound guard [Runyan] catches it and rumbles for five yards. That’s kind of how the night went for us. But I think that’s one of the positives of what we did on defense: We attacked the ball. We had four forced fumbles.”
Dallas traded up to select Downs at No. 11 overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. At Ohio State in 2025, he won the Lott Trophy and the Jim Thorpe Award. Josh Downs went to the Colts in the third round, No. 79 overall, in 2023. He set the franchise’s rookie record with 68 catches that season.
The Cowboys host the Washington Commanders on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
